Taking Care of the Rest

April 28, 2015

Taking Care of the Rest

Sometimes it seems difficult for me to slow down, to rest. But when I do, what a gift rest is. My body, mind, spirit all know how much I need it.

This past weekend I had the blessing of enjoying eight of my college friends for our 21st annual girl weekend (normally we have 11 total—two weren’t able to join us this year). They are all friends from college, beautiful wives and moms, with 22 children among the 10 of them. Their wonderful husbands keep the children for the weekend while the 9 or 11 of us relax at a beach house in Charleston.

We eat, laugh, reminisce, walk on the beach, exercise, talk about our blessings and our struggles. We are mirrors to each other, encouraging each other and holding each other accountable. We strengthen each other in our faith journeys.

Usually on the Sunday evening or Monday after Girl Weekend, recipes, photos, and sweet “Reply to All” emails follow. I was surprised several years ago to receive this certain “Reply to All” email. It read something like this:

“Good morning, ladies. This is Gina’s husband. I don’t normally look or respond to her emails, but I wanted to thank you for being such good friends to my wife. My beautiful bride came home so refreshed and happy. After three children, and 17 years of marriage, I love my wife today more than the day I married her. Thank you for refreshing her this weekend.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I read his email–precious. (Hint to any husband–this is a good idea to do.) Her weekend girl getaway not only refreshed herself but her husband also, her family.

It is healthy and necessary to get away and rest, relax.

Brilliant Renaissance man Leonardo Da Vinci said, “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation. For when you come back to your work, your judgment will be surer…Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller, and more of it can be taken in at a glance, and a lack of harmony or proportion is more readily seen.”

In fact, it’s one of the Ten Commandments, not a suggestion, to rest, to honor the Sabbath.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God…For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” –Exodus 20:8-10a, 11.

I am thankful to my parents for encouraging our family to honor the Sabbath and rest. It helps fuel back up for the week. If the Lord can do it all in six days, what makes me think I can’t?

Give yourself permission to rest and relax. Let’s make more of an effort to unwind.

As Roman poet Ovid said, “Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”

Reflect:

–When is the last time you truly relaxed, truly rested with friends, your spouse or by yourself? Please comment.

–How do you observe the Sabbath? Please let us know.

–Are you over-programmed?

Renew:

–-“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” –Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

–“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.” –-Hebrews 4:9-10 NIV.

Recharge:

–What plans will you make to intentionally set aside time for vacation, rest, relaxation? Please comment.

–How will you plan to be still, be quiet for a time?

June 3, 2014

The Wonder of Summer: Hula Hooping and More Fun, Post #33

When is the last time you truly had fun acting like a child? Yesterday, last week, last month…you can’t remember? Recently I experienced a fresh perspective on fun and child-like frivolity.

Mom and I were driving in the car when she proceeded to tell me that she spotted hula hoops in the Dollar Store the other day. She wondered if she could still hula hoop as well as she could years ago when I was a kid. Did she let her mind just wonder about the hula hoops? Oh no. Mom didn’t stop just thinking about it. She said she grabbed one of the hula hoops and tried it out in the middle of the store to see if she still could. We laughed and laughed as she recalled putting down her big ol’ purse in the Dollar Store aisle, not caring who was watching her, having fun trying to hula hoop.

Good for her. Shame on me for taking myself too seriously so many times.

A few days later, I was out shopping and spotted hula hoops. I did not drop my purse right there in the store and test her out, but I did purchase two hoops. On my driveway at home, I stepped into the bright yellow, plastic oval hoop, painted with fluorescent stars. I brought the hoop slowly to my waist, took a deep breath, stepped forward with my right foot, and spun the hoop to the right, causing the little beans inside the hoop to make their familiar, spinning sound (just hearing that sound made me smile). It lasted just a few rounds around my waist before it dropped to the ground. I giggled and picked the hoop up, trying again. This time it spun long enough for me to even take a few steps, then fell. I snickered more.

By this time, my two beautiful and hip grandmother neighbors walked by. I posed a challenge and handed each one a hula hoop. They laughed and stepped in the hoops without hesitation. The hoops spun, then fell. We giggled. Fun is contagious!

Sunday our cul-de-sac had a “Summer Kickoff Block Party.” I brought the hula hoops. A few people tried hula hooping, snickering and telling us about how they used them as children all the time. Fun is contagious!

Let’s intentionally play like children sometimes. It’s good for us, for our souls. Let’s hula hoop; build sand castles; sing karaoke; catch fireflies in Mason jars and let them go; blow bubbles; play frisbee; add your fun here….

Reflect:

–What kind of child-like fun do you and your family have? Please comment.

–Who will you reach out to this week make fun contagious?

Renew:

–-“At the time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.'” –Matthew 11:25-26 NIV84

–“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'” –Matthew 18:1-4 NIV84

–“May the God of hope fill you with JOY and peace.” –Romans 15:13 NIV 84

Recharge:

–Let’s humble ourselves and trust like children. What will you do differently to be more child-like?

Resource:

–Hula Hooping is also healthy for you. “Hooping improves core strength, tones your stomach, arms, thighs and behind, is a low-impact, high-energy workout that can burn approximately 400 – 600 calories in an hour.” http://www.hulahooping.com/hoop-fitness.html

–Watch this amazing “Homespun Hoops” video from the Charleston International Film Festival. http://homespunhoops.com/media-2/videos/

May 27, 2014

The Wonder of Summer & Family Bonding Challenge, Post #32

Yesterday kicked off 100 glorious days of the summer season. The productive sounds of lawn mowers, joyful children laughing and splashing in nearby pools, the fragrant aroma of meat cooking on the grill, the lulling sound of katydids chirping at night, the sweet sight of beautiful plants and flowers…my senses are overstimulated with the wonder of summer.

I love that most of our churches, para-church organizations and non-profits curb the meetings and activities during the summer, providing extra time for our intentional rest, recreation, and relaxation. Before you make your “Summer To Do List,” let’s talk about family reunions.

Does your extended family get together as a reunion, or just for weddings and funerals? Perhaps, with your leadership, this summer will be different.

You might be thinking, “I don’t really like being around my big family. I enjoy hanging out with my friends more.” Beloved, yes, we get to choose our friends and not our family. No family is perfect. As I heard someone I greatly respect say, “Each family puts the ‘FUN’ in ‘dysFUNction.'” Please focus on the good attributes of each family member and remember that we share the same bloodline. Let’s look in the mirror and remember we all have flaws.

Perhaps plan some activity around some of the interests your family share. For example, my Mom’s family likes to dance, so we plan to have beach music playing and a makeshift dance floor available.

When you get together, please plan to reminisce and capture those priceless family stories, especially from the more senior members of the family. With the easy video-recording on Smartphones these days, it’s a wonderful way to record your family’s memories of your history and “the way things were.” How did your grandparents/parents meet? What was it like when they were growing up?

This summer, I encourage you to reach out to your grandparents, parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and organize a casual, low-key family reunion. Please know it doesn’t have to be fancy, formal, or even cost much money. It can be in a family member’s backyard or a church fellowship hall. If family is coming from out-of-town, you can have several options available for staying with nearby family or nearby hotels rooms blocked. Some may want to rent a beach-house or mountain home.

Each day is a gift; that’s why it’s called “the present.” Savor every moment of this summer. Please make the first step to spend some intentional time with your family. One piece of advice a mentor told me once: “Always treat your friends like family, and your family like friends.”

Reflect:

–What will you do to bring some of your family together this summer? Please comment.

–What are some of the activities you do together as an extended family?

Renew:

–“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” –Psalm 68:5-6 NIV84.

–“Jesus…said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.'” –Mark 5:19 NIV84

–“Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.” –1 Timothy 5:3-4 NIV84

Recharge:

–This week, please plan to call or contact at least three family members you haven’t spoken to in a long time.

–How did you feel after you called them?

Resource:

In 2006, we organized 30 of my Mom’s family in the majestic NC mountains in Valle Crucis at the Valle Crucis Conference Center. We all stayed in a lovely 1920’s old dormitory, complete with huge stone fireplace downstairs, and perfect hardwood floors for dancing. (only about $60 per person for accommodations and all three daily meals–easy and beautiful 1920s old school dormitory, including rocking chairs on the porch)

http://www.highsouth.com/vallecrucis/